Early House Report Card

[oldbookguy]

I can tell you initially Sen. Rockefeller, D. WV was initially 100% in favor of UIGEA which led to my follow-up letter and meeting (see thread earlier). I have since received 2 letters from him, neither spouting his initial position. The last touched on the Neteller mess and that under current legislation there was nothing to be done to help but he specifically pointed out the Frank bill that is pending.

On this he was, as expected, non-committal as to support.

However, again, I will point out he did not spout the full support as initially he did.

Sen. Byrd D. WV was not even aware that it was snuck into the Safe Ports Act believing it was never removed from the Union Calendar and told me not to worry since there was no legislation pending to bring back the UIGEA. He was surprised to learn different and may go along with something reasonable, he has never voiced support for UIGEA.

If time permits this can (I will try) to go back a few years. It seems every other year from early 2001 each house passed a form of UIGEA, just the other never took it up.
To me this indicated a true lack of support (passing when it was know the other would not). Frist & Kyl upset the apple cart so to speak with the last minute maneuver they pulled.

obg

[TheEngineer]

Cool...thanks for the heads-up.

[oldbookguy]

Another note, CNN On The money just did a piece on the candidates for president and so called 'sin' money - tobacco, wine / beer and gambling.

Seems Giuliani has received about 161,000 from Gambling Casinos so far, by far the most of any candidate.

Can we work this?

obg

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]

Another note, CNN On The money just did a piece on the candidates for president and so called 'sin' money - tobacco, wine / beer and gambling.

Seems Giuliani has received about 161,000 from Gambling Casinos so far, by far the most of any candidate.

Can we work this?

obg

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know. Frist got a lot of casino money too.

I do think Giuliani would be good for us even if he is not on our side, as he'd likely start a process of liberating the Republican Party from social conservative domination.

Al D'Amato endorsed Fred Thompson for president, but I don't know if that means Thompson is for Internet poker or not.

[oldbookguy]

Never hurts to court a candidate, though.

His contact:
webteam@joinrudy2008.com


A letter to him sent as follows:

Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee, Inc.
295 Greenwich St, #371
New York, NY 10007

Mayor Giuliani,

Congratulations on the outstanding support that the Gaming Industry is giving you!

I do hope this support is returned in kind with an eye as well on we Internet Poker Players. I am aware this is a touchy issue with the pressure being brought to bear by groups such as Focus on the Family and Senators such as Jon Kyl (R. AZ.).

However, this is an issue important to many Americans. As a long time republican I am saddened by the stringent position taken by our party and the negative light this casts on us making this issue of Online Gaming into an issue being successfully exploited by democrats in congress.

In-fact it is rumored that even Sen. Obama (a notoriously feared poker player) is nearing support for amending the current Unlawful Internet Gambling Act of 2006 passed at the midnight hour in the last congress by nefarious means with the help of former Sen. Frist (R. TN.) favoring amending this law to exempt and regulate Internet Poker.

I urge you to support the same and take this initiative away from the democrats.

There are an estimated 25 million American Internet Poker Players and in the mid-term election of 2006 the passage of the UIGEA cost us many tens of thousands of votes (many republican and independent votes) and in all likely hood was enough to sway several key elections.

Regulating Internet Poker will bring this out of the backrooms and into the light of day where a safe and secure environment will exist. This will allow much better monitoring to prevent underage playing as well as preventing money laundering schemes as currently feared by the current administration.

Regulation will help protect American families by allowing monitoring of deposits and deposit limits that are currently only in place on an ad hoc basis and vary from location to location.

Sincerely,
XXXXXX
XXXXX

Not my best effort, but gets the point across.

obg

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
is there any youtube or video of Carson during that hearing without having to watch the whole thing?

That would be good classic stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMhVGduYM98

[Uglyowl]

Some good news folks, Cook Politcal Report published their first 2008 House report seats in jeapordy and 9 "F rated" reps are at risk:

Feel free to copy this anywhere you wish, I think it's some good info.

http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/r..._race_aug6.pdf

Here is the list with Engineer's ranking for at risk seats. As things get closer we should look at pouncing on the following: CO-04 Marilyn Musgrave F* ,CT--04 Christopher Shays F-, IL-10 Mark Kirk F, NM-01 Heather Wilson F*, NY-25 Jim Walsh F, NY-29 Randy Kuhl F*, NC-08 Robin Hayes F*, OH-01 Steve Chabot F*, WY-AL Barbara Cubin*# R F-

Republicans in a fight for their seat

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
AK-AL Don Young*# A
CA-04 John Doolittle# ?-
CO-04 Marilyn Musgrave F*
CT--04 Christopher Shays F-
IL-10 Mark Kirk F
NV-03 Jon Porter A-
NJ-07 Mike Ferguson ?-
NM-01 Heather Wilson F*
NY-25 Jim Walsh F
NY-29 Randy Kuhl F*
NC-08 Robin Hayes F*
OH-01 Steve Chabot F*
OH-15 Deborah Pryce ?-
PA-06 Jim Gerlach ?-
WA-08 Dave Reichert ?-
WY-AL Barbara Cubin*# R F-


For the Democrats they list 13 in jeapordy, mostly neutral except for Nancy Bodya, a "B"

Democrats in a fight for their seat

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
AZ-05 Harry Mitchell ?
CA-11 Jerry McNerney ?
FL-16 Tim Mahoney ?
GA-08 Jim Marshall ?-
KS-02 Nancy Boyda B
NH-01 Carol Shea-Porter ?
NY-19 John Hall ?
NY-20 Kirsten Gillibrand ?
OH-18 Zack Space ?
PA-04 Jason Altmire ?
PA-10 Chris Carney ?
TX-22 Nick Lampson ?
WI-08 Steve Kagen ?

[TheEngineer]

Nice post Uglyowl.....and some really good news for us.

[TheEngineer]

Published to Dailykos, at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/9/212038/3736

[fnurt]

Great diary. If you want to build in a little more advocacy, you can highlight the FoF connection. Lots of liberals would call their Congressman just for a chance to stick a thumb in Dobson's eye, he's like Public Enemy #1 at Daily Kos.